Sunday, 16 September 2012

We popped out for dinner the night before last and while we were out my wildlife camera captured a family visit. When I first saw the picture I only noticed three Javalina, it wasn't until I cropped it that I spotted the fourth.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

You may have realised by now that I love Herps. They are not to everyone's taste I know but I really enjoy having them around and there is one particular species that is a personal favourite.
The Desert Spiny Lizard was the first close reptilian encounter I had when we first moved in. We had a group of people working to clear all the Buffle Grass that had taken over our land. It was a chilly winter morning. The grass was being bundled into bins before being put onto a trailer. I walked past an empty bin and saw a pair of eyes looking up at me. One of the guys had found a lizard and put it in a bin! I wasn't sure what his long term plan was for the lizard but I didn't want it kidnapped lizardnapped so I asked if I could move it. The lizard was cold and so very sluggish so it tolerated me lifting it out of the bin and carrying it to a warm sheltered spot to thaw.

Ever since that day I have been smitten! This one lives outside our bedroom and each morning is perched on the same rock, catching the warming rays of the rising sun.

And this one hangs out by our kitchen window. He has a favourite tree where he rests up during the heat of the day.

And this wily character sits under the outside light at the front of the house and feeds on the insects that come to the light.

Wednesday, 5 September 2012

They are certainly not a rare sighting in my yard but how can you not love these little charmers? They are not particularly smart and they fuss and chatter all day long but they are such a ubiquitous part of the scenery round here. When we first viewed the house, long before we purchased it, the first species I saw was the Gambell's Quail and so they were the very first post on this blog and I continue to photograph them year in, year out.
The chicks were a little late appearing this year but here are a few that I managed to get some shots of last month, just when they were getting to that scruffy, adolescent phase.

Here are Mum and Dad introducing one of their youngsters to the delights of the quail block.

And showing them were to pick up spilled seeds from under the feeders.

Checking out the yard from the wall, before dropping in for lunch!

Remember those dreadful school photos that we all have hidden away somewhere? Is this the quail equivalent I wonder? We all 'grow into it' eventually!

So small and vulnerable

Good job Mum is keeping a good sharp look out for potential danger.

Three little bundles of feathers, so perfectly camouflaged but they've all got their heads down, I hope Mum is keeping watch close by.

Saturday, 1 September 2012

All the jokes have been made about how quickly they reproduce and maybe if I was planning on ploughing up my beautiful desert landscape and planting lots of vegetables I would be less keen on these little guys but for me they are just a part of a balanced ecosystem. If all the predators were to disappear, heaven forbid, then I am sure we would be very quickly over run but thankfully we have a strong population of snakes, hawks, owls, bobcats and coyotes so all is well.

So I can happily watch the rabbits foraging outside the office window without being concerned about priceless petunias.

And when the little babies appear I don't moan at the thought of lost plants

Instead I respect these little fluffy bundles for surviving in such a harsh climate where food is scarce and danger is plentiful

And if they do appear to be multiplying at this time of year I know that is natures plan, to keep others fed.

We have a small piece of land nestled up against the mountains and this blog is a pictorial record of what occurs there. My only rule, if it doesn't take place on our land - it doesn't get on the blog.